#52 Tough and Tender Leadership with Patrick Erwin, Director of Content & Training at The Maxwell Leadership Foundation

In this episode of The Learning to Lead Show, Mark J. Cundiff sits down with Patrick Erwin, author of I Love This Place, leadership educator, former high school band director, and Director of Content & Training at Maxwell Leadership.Patrick shares the leadership lessons he learned while building a high-performing high school band program from the ground up and how those lessons apply to every organization—from schools and nonprofits to manufacturing plants and corporate teams.This conversation dives deep into leadership culture, trust, influence, generational leadership, and the balance between driving results while genuinely caring for people. Patrick’s stories are authentic, practical, and filled with wisdom for any growth-minded leader who wants to create a workplace where people truly say, “I love this place.”Key Topics DiscussedPatrick Erwin’s Leadership Journey Starting a brand-new school and band program from scratch  Leading over 300 students while building culture intentionally  How early overconfidence became a catalyst for growth  Lessons learned transitioning from education to Maxwell Leadership The Humbling Feedback That Changed Everything The anonymous student review that challenged Patrick’s leadership  Why technical skills alone are not enough  Moving from proving yourself to genuinely leading others Why Leaders Miss Their Biggest Blind Spots The danger of self-assurance without self-awareness  How limited circles limit leadership growth  “We lead as we were led,” and why mentorship matters The Conversation That Redirected His LeadershipPatrick’s wife delivered a powerful truth:“You spend a lot of time talking about leadership and not a lot of time leading.”That moment launched a complete shift in how he viewed influence, relationships, and authentic leadership.Leadership Books RecommendedThe 360 Degree Leader — John C. Maxwell How to Get a Return on Failure — John C. Maxwell The Future Begins with Z — Dr. Tim Elmore Undistracted — Bob GoffI love this - Patrick ErwinConnect with Patrick ErwinWebsiteLinkedInBook-I Love This PlaceFree Learning To Lead ResourcesFree Book: The Trust GapThe Learning To Lead NewsletterLeaderNotes🔎 About LeaderNotesLeaderNotes is a quick-hit companion to each episode of The Learning to Lead Show. In just 5–10 minutes, Mark Cundiff recaps the top leadership insights, frameworks, and action steps from each interview, designed for busy, growth-minded leaders who want to review and apply the episode’s biggest takeaways on the go. It’s like the highlight reel + playbook—all in one.Contact Mark at: [email protected]